Helen Mirren fights to save Italy's 1,500-year-old olives after 22m trees lost

Oscar-winning actor Dame Helen Mirren has spent decades entertaining audiences with her performances, but one of her most important missions lies far from the film sets. The 81-year-old actor is fighting to save Italy’s ancient olive trees from a devastating bacterial infection that has wiped out millions of trees and caused billions of euros in economic damage.For nearly a decade, Mirren has been raising awareness about Xylella fastidiosa, an invasive bacterium that has devastated olive groves in southern Italy. Through her initiative, Save the Olives, she hopes to protect trees that have survived for centuries and preserve an important part of Italy’s cultural, environmental and economic heritage.Speaking to PEOPLE, the MobLand star expressed concern over the lack of attention being paid to the crisis.